Electronic apparatus, method for executing application,  and computer-readable recording medium

ABSTRACT

A portable electronic device is provided. The portable electronic device includes a display, a memory to store a first set of applications and a second set of applications, the first set of applications and the second set of applications to be executed in a first operation mode and a second operation mode of a same operating system, respectively, and a processor. The processor is adapted to display a background screen and a first icon via the display, at least temporarily, while the portable electronic device is operated in the first operation mode, identify a first input received with respect to the first icon, display one or more rectangular indications on a first portion of the background screen based at least in part on the first input, each of the one or more rectangular indications indicative of an application of one or more of the second set of applications, identify a dragging input received with respect to a rectangular indication selected from the one or more rectangular indications, display a second icon corresponding to a respective application of the one or more of the second set of applications indicated by the selected rectangular indication on a second portion of the background screen where the dragging input is released, and execute the respective application based at least in part on a second input received with respect to the second icon.

PRIORITY

This application is a Continuation Application of, and claims priorityunder 35 U.S.C. § 120 to, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/649,092,which was filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Jul. 13,2017, which is a Continuation Application of, and claims priority under35 U.S.C. § 120 to, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/469,329 filed inthe U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Aug. 26, 2014, issued as U.S.Pat. No. 9,733,798 on Aug. 15, 2017, and claims priority under 35 U.S.C.§ 119(a) to Korean Patent Application Serial No. 10-2013-0123661, whichwas filed on Oct. 16, 2013, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office,the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to apparatuses and methodsconsistent with embodiments related to an electronic apparatus, anapplication execution method, and a computer-readable recording medium,and more particularly, to an electronic apparatus capable of easilyselecting a windows store application in a desktop mode and operatingthe selected windows store application, an application execution method,and a computer-readable recording medium.

2. Description of the Related Art

A computer is a machine which is implemented with logical languages andprocesses a series of computations, and includes an Operating System(OS) for efficiently operating a hardware system.

A recent OS provides a plurality of operating environments on one OS toprovide convenience of an operation in the desktop environment and themobile environment. Specifically, the recent OS supports the desktopmode such as an existing Personal Computer (PC) environment as well as atouch screen-based modern User Interface (UI) (or a metro mode, a modernmode, or the like) provided from a prior version of a mobile phone, orthe like. Thus, applications executed in the desktop mode andapplications executed in the modern UI are mixed and installed in therecent operating system.

However, such an OS does not provide a list for the installedapplications in the desktop mode, and provides the list only in themodern UI. In general, the desktop mode rather than the modern UI isused in the work environment such as at companies, and an application(that is, windows store application or metro application) operating inthe metro mode may be easily selected in the desktop mode without usingthe modern UI.

However, the OS may select an application operating in the metro modeonly in the metro mode, and may not select or operate the applicationoperating in the metro mode in the desktop mode.

SUMMARY

The present invention has been made to address the above-mentionedproblems and disadvantages, and to provide at least the advantagesdescribed below.

Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention provides an electronicapparatus and a method for executing an application in an electronicapparatus having a first operation mode in which a desktop applicationis operated, and a second operation mode in which a windows storeapplication is operated.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a portableelectronic device is provided. The portable electronic device includes adisplay; memory to store a first set of applications and a second set ofapplications, the first set of applications and the second set ofapplications to be executed in a first operation mode and a secondoperation mode of a same operating system, respectively; and a processoradapted to display a background screen and a first icon on the display,at least temporarily, while the portable electronic device is operatedin the first operation mode, identify a first input received withrespect to the first icon, display a first rectangular indication and asecond rectangular indication on a first portion of the backgroundscreen based at least in part on the first input, the first rectangularindication indicative of a first application of the first set ofapplications and the second rectangular indication indicative of asecond application of the second set of applications, wherein the firstand second rectangular indications have a first graphicalcharacteristic, identify a dragging input received with respect to thesecond rectangular indication selected from the first and secondrectangular indications, display, in response to the dragging inputbeing released, a second icon corresponding to the second application ofthe second set of applications indicated by the selected secondrectangular indication on a second portion of the background screenwhere the dragging input is released, wherein the second icon has asecond graphical characteristic different from the first graphicalcharacteristic, and execute the second application of the second set ofapplications based at least in part on a second input received withrespect to the second icon.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a portableelectronic device is provided. The portable electronic device includes adisplay; memory to store a first set of applications and a second set ofapplications, the first set of applications and the second set ofapplications to be executed in a first operation mode and a secondoperation mode of a same operating system, respectively; and a processoradapted to display a background screen and a first icon on the display,at least temporarily, while the portable electronic device is operatedin the first operation mode, identify a first input received withrespect to the first icon, display an application list including aplurality of tile icons on a first portion of the background screenbased at least in part on the first input, the plurality of tile iconsincluding a first tile icon indicative of a first application of a firstset of applications and a second tile icon indicative of a secondapplication of the second set of applications, wherein the plurality oftile icons are displayed with division of one or more specified groups,identify a dragging input received with respect to the second tile iconselected from the first and second tile icons, display, in response tothe dragging input being released, a second icon corresponding to thesecond application of the second set of applications indicated by theselected second tile icon on a second portion of the background screen,the second icon having a size smaller than the size of the second tileicon, and execute the second application of the second set ofapplications based at least in part on a second input received withrespect to the second icon.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, anon-transitory, machine-readable, storage device storing instructionsthereon is provided. The instructions, when executed by one or moreprocessors, cause the one or more processors to perform operationsincluding storing, at a portable electronic device, a first set ofapplications and a second set of applications, the first set ofapplications and the second set of applications to be executed in afirst operation mode and a second operation mode of a same operatingsystem, respectively; displaying, on a display operatively coupled withthe portable electronic device, a background screen and a first icon atleast temporarily while the portable electronic device is operated inthe first operation mode; identifying a first input received withrespect to the first icon; displaying a first rectangular indication anda second rectangular indication on a first portion of the backgroundscreen based at least in part on the first input, the first rectangularindication indicative of a first application of the first set ofapplications and the second rectangular indication indicative of asecond application of the second set of applications, wherein the firstand second rectangular indications are displayed in a grid pattern withdivision of one or more specified groups; identifying a dragging inputreceived with respect to the second rectangular indication selected fromthe first and second rectangular indications; displaying, in response tothe dragging input being released, a second icon corresponding to thesecond application of the second set of applications indicated by theselected second rectangular indication on a second portion of thebackground screen, the second icon having a size smaller than the sizeof the second rectangular indication; and executing the secondapplication of the second set of applications based at least in part ona second input received with respect to the second icon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will be more apparent from the following detailed description,taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a configuration of an electronic apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are views illustrating a detailed configuration of acontroller of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are views of an operation of a virtualization unit of FIG.1;

FIGS. 6 to 17 are views illustrating various user interface windows tobe displayed in a user interface unit of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating an application execution methodaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention are described indetail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the following description, same reference numerals are used for thesame elements when they are depicted in different drawings. The mattersdefined in the description, such as detailed construction and elements,are provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of theembodiments of the present invention. Thus, it is apparent that theembodiments of the present invention can be carried out without thosespecifically defined matters. Also, functions or elements known in therelated art are not described in detail since they would obscure theembodiments of the present invention with unnecessary detail.

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a configuration of an electronic apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, an electronic device 100 according to an embodimentof the present invention includes a communication interface unit 110, auser interface unit 120, a storage unit 130, a management unit 140, avirtualization unit 150, and the controller 160. The electronic device100 may be an apparatus in which an Operating System (OS), which has afirst operation mode (or a desktop mode) in which a desktop applicationis operated, and a second operation mode (or a modern UI, a metro mode,a modern mode, or the like) in which a windows store application (or ametro application) is operated, may be driven by, for example, aPersonal Computer (PC), a laptop PC, a tablet PC, a Portable MultimediaPlayer (PMP), a portable phone, or the like. The OS may be, for example,Windows 8™ or Windows 8.1™.

The desktop application is an application which operates in a state suchas prior versions of the PC environment (that is, suitable for an inputenvironment based on a keyboard and mouse, and the windows storeapplication is an application which operates in a state such as a mobilephone environment (that is, suitable for an input environment based on atouch screen).

The communication interface unit 110 connects the electronic apparatus100 to an external apparatus (not shown). The communication interfaceunit 110 may be connected to the external apparatus through a Local AreaNetwork (LAN) or an Internet network or may be connected to the externalapparatus in a wireless communication (for example, wirelesscommunication such as Global System for Mobile communication (GSM),Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Long Term Evolution(LTE), or Wireless Broadband Internet (WiBro) manner.

The communication interface unit 110 receives an application from anexternal apparatus. The received application is installed in theelectronic apparatus 100 by the controller 160, and the application isstored in a preset folder of the storage unit 130.

The user interface unit 120 includes a plurality of function keysconfigured to allow various types of functions supported by theelectronic apparatus 100 to be set or selected by a user, and displaysvarious pieces of information provided in the electronic apparatus 100.The user interface unit 120 may be implemented with a device in which aninput and output are simultaneously implemented, such as a touch screen.Further, the user interface unit 120 may include a touch screen andsimultaneously further include a mouse (or a touch pad) and a monitor.

The user interface unit 120 displays a list for applications installedin the electronic apparatus 100. Specifically, the user interface unit120 displays a list for desktop applications and windows storeapplications installed in the electronic apparatus 100 in the secondoperation mode. The user interface unit 120 displays the list with atile icon (e.g. an icon having a rectangular shape) for a correspondingapplication. The user interface unit 120 displays the desktopapplication and the windows store application in a mixed manner or adivided manner.

A list in the second operation mode is displayed in response to enteringa starting screen (or a metro start menu) of the second operation mode.Alternatively, the list in the second operation mode may be displayed inresponse to an icon arranged on a charm bar being selected or inresponse to an icon for indicating a list displayed in a preset locationof the starting screen of the second operation mode being selected. Thecharm bar is a hidden menu region displayed in response to a right sideof the screen being selected.

The user interface unit 120 displays a list for desktop applications andwindows store applications installed in the electronic apparatus 100 inthe first operation mode. The user interface unit 120 may display anicon for a corresponding application. The user interface unit 120 maydisplay the desktop application and the windows store application in amixed manner with division or a divided manner. Alternatively, the userinterface unit 120 may display only the desktop application or only thewindows store application. The user interface unit 120 may arrange anddisplay applications based on frequency of use, an installed order, or aname of the application.

A list in the first operation mode may be displayed in response to anicon (e.g. an icon configured to receive a command for allowing theapplication list to be displayed) arranged on a charm bar beingselected, in response to a specific gesture being input on a touchscreen, or in response to a preset shortcut key being input.

The user interface unit 120 receives a selection for a windows storeapplication to be displayed in response to entering the first operationmode. Specifically, in response to entering the first operation mode(that is, in a state in which a wallpaper of the desktop mode isdisplayed), the user interface unit 120 receives the selection for thewindows store application to be displayed on a user interface windowwhich displays information of the windows store application among aplurality of pre-stored applications. The selection may be performed inthe first operation mode or in the second operation mode, and theselection operation is described below with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10.

Referring to FIG. 1, in response to entering the first operation mode,the user interface unit 120 displays an icon corresponding to thewindows store application included in the list. Specifically, inresponse to a wallpaper of the desktop mode being displayed by theelectronic apparatus 100, the electronic apparatus 100 displays the iconof the windows store application included in the list on the wallpaper.The icon is used to receive an operation command for a correspondingwindows store application. Therefore, the user may easily performselection and operation for the windows store application in the desktopmode.

The user interface unit 120 receives the selection for the displayedicon. Specifically, the user interface unit 120 receives an operationcommand for the displayed icon. The user interface unit 120 may alsoselect an operation environment of the selected icon. For example, theuser interface unit may select instead of a general operationenvironment (for example, an operation environment in the secondoperation) an operation environment in the desktop mode with respect tothe windows store application.

The operation command for the windows store application in the desktopmode may be received in various forms. For example, in response to anicon displayed on the wallpaper of the desktop mode being firstselected, and then the desktop mode being selected as an operationenvironment, the receiving of the operation command may be performed inresponse to an icon displayed in a start menu of a modern UI beingplaced on an icon for “execute in desktop mode” through a drag and dropmanner, or in response to the icon displayed in the start menu of themodern UI being placed on an icon for entering of the first operationmode through a drag and drop manner. The user interface unit 120displays an operation screen of the application corresponding to theselected icon. In response to a plurality of applications beingoperated, the user interface unit 120 displays screens of the pluralityof applications in a split-screen form or in a plurality of widgetwindows.

The storage unit 130 stores a program for driving the electronicapparatus 100. Specifically, the storage unit 130 stores a program whichis a set of various commands required to drive the electronic apparatus100. The program includes an OS and various types of applications.Specifically, the OS is an operating program for driving the electronicapparatus 100, and has a first operation mode in which a desktopapplication is operated, and a second operation mode in which a windowsstore application is operated.

The storage unit 130 stores a list. Specifically, the storage unit 130stores a list managed by the management unit 140 described below. Thelist lists a windows store application to be displayed in a wallpaper ofthe first operation mode. The list may include address information foran execution file of the windows store application and icon informationcorresponding to the windows store application. Independently of theabove-described list, the storage unit 130 may be implemented to store amodern list for the windows store application among the plurality ofapplications stored in the storage unit 130, or a desktop list for thedesktop application among the plurality of applications. The storageunit 130 stores various types of icons.

The storage unit 130 may be implemented with a storage medium within theelectronic apparatus 100, and an external storage medium, for example, aUniversal Serial Bus (USB) memory, a removable disk including a flashmemory or the like, a storage medium connected to an imaging apparatus,or a web server through a network.

The management unit 140 manages a list for a windows store applicationto be displayed in response to entering the first operation mode amongthe plurality of applications stored in the storage unit 130.Specifically, the management unit 140 manages applications to bedisplayed in response to entering the first operation mode (that is,application icons to be displayed on a wallpaper of the desktop mode).This embodiment of the present invention discloses that only windowsstore applications are included in the list, but it is obvious thaticons of desktop applications may be displayed on the wallpaper of thedesktop mode, and thus desktop applications may be included in the list.

The management unit 140 adds or deletes applications according toselection of the user. Specifically, the management unit 140 displays auser interface unit 120 in such a manner that information of the windowsstore application among the plurality of pre-stored applications isdisplayed in response to a list addition command being received from theuser, or in response to a list display command of the windows storeapplication being received from the user, and adds a selected windowsstore application to the list in response to the windows storeapplication being selected on the displayed screen. The selection may beperformed in a state of the first operation mode or in a state of thesecond operation mode, and the selection operation is described indetail below with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10.

The management unit 140 manages a modern list for the windows storeapplication among the plurality of applications stored in the storageunit 130. Specifically, the management unit 140 determines whether eachof the plurality of applications stored in the storage unit 130 is adesktop application or a windows store application. More specifically,an installation location of the desktop application (for example,%programdata%\Microsoft\windows\Start Menu folder) is different from aninstallation location of the windows store application. Therefore, themanagement unit 140 may divide applications using the installationlocations of the applications.

A windows store application includes a unique identification (ID) valuein addition to a preprogram name, but the desktop application does notinclude a unique ID value. Therefore, the management unit 140 maydetermine whether the application is a desktop application or a windowsstore application based on whether or not a unique ID value is included.The division operation may be performed using one determinationcriterion or by applying the above-described determination criteria.

In response to the division of each of the plurality of applicationsthrough the above-described process, the management unit 140 manages theapplications determined to be windows store applications as the modernlist. The management unit 140 manages the applications determined to bedesktop applications as the desktop list.

In response to a new application being installed, the management unit140 adds the new application to a corresponding list according to itstype. In response to an application being deleted, the management unit140 deletes the application from a list corresponding to the deletedapplication.

The virtualization unit 150 performs virtualization in the secondoperation mode in the first operation mode. Specifically, in response toan operation command operated in the first operation mode being receivedwith respect to the windows store application, the virtualization unit150 may operate the selected windows store application in thevirtualized second operation mode. A setting change generated in theoperating process may be stored in a region corresponding to the windowsstore application. Detailed operation of the virtualization unit 150 isdescribed below with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. In an embodiment of thepresent invention, the second operation mode is driven in the firstoperation mode using virtualization. However, other than thevirtualization method, the first operation mode itself may beimplemented to support the second operation mode.

The controller 160 performs control for components of the electronicapparatus 100. Specifically, the controller 160 controls the managementunit 140 to manage various types of lists in response to the systembeing booted, or a new application being installed. In response toentering the first operation mode, that is, in response to a wallpaperof the desktop mode being displayed, the controller 160 controls theuser interface unit 120 to display an icon corresponding to a windowsstore application included in the list.

In response to the displayed icon (e.g. icon corresponding to thewindows store application) being selected, the controller 160 drives theselected icon. In response to the selection in which the windows storeapplication corresponding to the selected icon operates in the desktopmode being received, the controller 160 performs virtualization in thesecond operation mode on the first operation mode, and operates awindows store application corresponding to the selected icon in thevirtualized second operation mode.

As described above, the electronic apparatus 100 according to anembodiment of the present invention registers a windows storeapplication frequently used by the user on the desktop wallpaper as anicon, and the user may easily drive the windows store application in thedesktop mode. Further, the electronic apparatus 100 according to anembodiment of the present invention may drive the windows storeapplication in the desktop mode, and may operate in the same manner asan existing OS method (for example, Windows XP or Windows 7) to increasethe user's familiarity of an OS.

FIG. 1 illustrates that the management unit 140, the virtualization unit150, and the controller 160 are separately configured, but theelectronic apparatus 100 may be implemented in such a manner that thefunctions of the management unit 140, virtualization unit 150, and thecontroller 160 are configured of one component. An embodiment of theelectronic apparatus 100 is described below with reference to FIG. 2.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are views illustrating a detailed configuration of thecontroller 160 of FIG. 1. Specifically, FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrateexamples of a structure of a controller 160 which allows a windows storeapplication operating in the second operation mode to be operated in thefirst operation mode.

Referring to FIG. 2, the controller 160 includes an Operating System(OS) layer 161, an Application Program Interface (API) layer 162,operating language layers 163 and 164, a desktop application layer 165,and a windows store application layer 166.

The OS layer 161 serves as an interface between hardware and anapplication program, and manages computer resources such as the storageunit 130, or the user interface unit 120. The OS layer 161 may include amouse driver and a touch input panel driver.

The API layer 162 is a layer configured to assist an interaction betweenan OS and an operation language, and supports various programs.

The operating language layers 163 and 164 perform an actual operationusing a program language corresponding to an application. Each programof the operating language layers 163 and 164 may operate both a desktopapplication and a windows store application. The operating language inthe related art operates only the desktop application or the windowsstore application. However, the operating language according to thepresent invention may operate both the desktop application and thewindows store application in response to languages that are the same aseach other. Therefore, the operating language may perform an operationof the windows store application in the first operation mode.

The desktop application layer 165 and windows store application layer166 are layers in which an application operating on the OS is operated.The application includes a desktop application and a windows storeapplication as described above.

Referring to FIG. 3, a controller 160′ includes an OS layer 161, an APIlayer 162, operating language layers 163′ and 164′, a virtualizationlayer 167, a desktop application layer 165, and a windows storeapplication layer 166.

The OS layer 161 serves as an interface between hardware and anapplication program, and manages computer resources such as the storageunit 130, or the user interface unit 120. The OS layer 161 may include amouse driver and a touch input panel driver.

The API layer 162 is a layer configured to assist an interaction betweenan OS and an operation language, and supports various programs.

The operating language layers 163′ and 164′ perform an actual operationusing a program language corresponding to an application. Specifically,unlike the operating languages of FIG. 2, operating languages in theoperating languages layers 163′ and 164′ may operate only the desktopapplication or the windows store application. For example, an operatinglanguage such as Windows Runtime Library (WinRT) or .NET Framework 4.5operates only the windows store application, and the operating languagesuch as Internet Explorer (IE) 10 Browser operates only the desktopapplication.

As described above, the operating languages of the operating languagelayers 163′ and 164′ of FIG. 3 operate only one application, and anoperating language supporting only a windows store application may notbe used in the desktop mode. However, it is inconvenient to not be ableto operate a windows store application in the desktop mode as describedabove. In the present invention, a modern UI is virtualized in thedesktop mode using a virtualization method, and the windows storeapplication may be operated on the virtualized modern UI. Thevirtualization operation is described below with reference to FIGS. 4and 5.

The desktop application layer 165 and the windows store applicationlayer 166 are layers in which an application operating on the OS isoperated. The application includes a desktop application and a windowsstore application as described above.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are views of an operation of the virtualization unit 150of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 4, the virtualization unit 150 is an emulatoroperating in the first operation mode. The emulator is operated in thedesktop mode, and performs in virtualization as if a package code 10 ofa windows store application, to which an operation command is input, isoperated on the modern UI. The emulator may be an emulator supportingthe second operation mode in the first operation mode. The emulator maybe an emulator supporting an additional OS. That is, the virtualizationunit 150 may perform virtualization with the same OS in the desktopmode, and operate a windows store application on the virtualized OS.

Referring to FIG. 5, a read/write command of an application executed inthe virtualization unit 150, which is an emulator, is mapped not with aspace of the emulator but with the storage unit 130 of the executionhardware (in response to a write command to a specific region of a HardDisc Drive (HDD), the emulator may interpret the command and record thecommand in an actual HDD).

Specifically, in response to a read/write command being sensed, thevirtualization unit 150 communicates with hardware using the API 162supported in the OS, and performs a read/write operation on thehardware. In response to a setting environment of a windows storeapplication operating on the emulator through the above-describedoperation being changed, the changed setting environment may be storedin a HDD space designated to the windows store application. Thus, evenwhen a corresponding windows store application is being operated in thesecond operation mode, the environment changed in the emulator may beapplied.

FIGS. 6 to 17 are views illustrating various examples of user interfacewindows to be displayed in the user interface unit 120 of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 6, a user interface window 600 is a screen displayedin response to entering the first operation mode, and is a wallpaper ofthe desktop mode. The user interface window 600 includes an icon 610corresponding to a windows store application included in a list. Theexample illustrated in FIG. 6 illustrates only an icon 610 of onewindows store application, but the wallpaper of the desktop mode may beimplemented to include a plurality of icons. The embodiment of thepresent invention illustrates that only the icon 610 corresponding tothe windows store application is displayed, but it is obvious that anicon of a desktop application may be displayed on the wallpaper of thedesktop mode.

The user may select an icon displayed in the user interface window 600to operate a windows store application. Hereinafter, a method of addingan icon to a wallpaper of the desktop mode is described with referenceto FIGS. 7 to 10.

There are various methods of adding an icon to a wallpaper of the firstoperation mode. Preferentially, an icon addition method in a state inwhich the first operation mode is displayed is described. First, to addan icon, a target to be added must be selected. Therefore, the user maydisplay a charm bar 700 as illustrated in FIG. 7, select an icon 710indicating an installed application on the displayed charm bar 700, andallow a list of the installed application to be displayed in theelectronic apparatus. Accordingly, the electronic apparatus 100 maydisplay a user interface window as illustrated in FIG. 8.

Referring to FIG. 7, the list for the installed application is displayedby selecting the icon on the charm bar 700, but the user interfacewindow may be implemented to display the list of the installedapplication in response to a preset touch gesture or a shortcut keybeing selected.

Referring to FIG. 8, a user interface window 800 includes a region 810which displays installed applications. The region 810 may have the sameform as a starting screen (e.g. a starting screen of a modern UI) of thesecond operation mode. The region may be implemented in a tile form or alist form. The region may not display all the applications installed inthe electronic apparatus 100 but only windows store applications. Aplurality of applications may be arranged and displayed in the region byconsidering frequency of use, an installed order, or an applicationtime.

In a state in which the user interface window 800 is displayed, the usermay select an application to be added to a wallpaper of the desktopmode, and place the selected application on the wallpaper of the desktopmode in a drag and drop form to add the selected application to thelist. FIG. 8 illustrates that the application is added to the list inthe drag and drop form, but the user interface window may be implementedin such a manner that the application is added through various methods.

The list addition method has been described in the desktop mode as thefirst operation mode. Hereinafter, a list addition method in the modernUI as the second operation mode is described with reference to FIGS. 9and 10.

Referring to FIG. 9, a user interface window 900 is a starting screen ofthe modern UI. The starting screen displays the list of applicationsinstalled in the electronic apparatus 100 in a tile form. The userselects one tile 910 among displayed tiles, and places the selected tile910 on a desktop link icon 920 in a drag and drop form to add theselected application to the list. The desktop link icon 920 is a regionwhich receives a command for adding an icon to the wallpaper of thedesktop mode. FIG. 9 illustrates that the corresponding command isreceived in a drag and drop form, but the command input may beimplemented by the operation of selecting an application to be addedthrough a preset action (e.g. selection for a preset time), andselecting a corresponding icon.

Referring to FIG. 10, a user interface window 1000 is a starting screenof the modern UI. The starting screen displays a list of applicationsinstalled in the electronic apparatus 100 in a tile form. The userselects one tile 1010 among displayed tiles, and places the selectedtile 1010 in a desktop mode icon 1020 in a drag and drop form to add theselected application to the list. In response to a corresponding iconbeing selected, the desktop mode icon 1020 receives a command forconverting the modern UI into the desktop mode.

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating a user interface window which displaysattribute information of a corresponding icon in response to an iconbeing added to a wallpaper of the desktop mode through the methods ofFIGS. 8 to 10.

A user interface window 1100 displays address information of acorresponding application and information for a display location inoperation, or the like of the application. An icon of the applicationmay be changed through the window.

The icon addition method of the windows store application to thewallpaper of the desktop mode is described above. Hereinafter, variousembodiments of the present invention which receive a command foroperating a windows store application in the desktop mode are describedwith reference to FIGS. 12 to 15.

Referring to FIG. 6, the user selects an icon installed in a wallpaperof the desktop mode and operates the windows store application 610.

In that the windows store application is generally operated in themodern UI, in response to the icon 610 being selected in an embodimentof the present invention, the electronic apparatus 100 converts thedesktop mode into the modern UI, and drives a windows store applicationcorresponding to the icon 610 in the modern UI.

However, as described in the related art, in the response to the windowsstore application, the environment operating in the desktop mode may beconvenient for the user (Specifically, a size of a window in the windowsstore application may be largely varied, but the size may be changedonly in a fixed frame. That is, there is inconvenience in that thewindows store application may not be displayed with a free size in anarbitrary location like the prior window). The user may want the windowsstore application to operate in the desktop mode.

Hereinafter, various command methods which allow the windows storeapplication to be operated in the desktop mode are described below.

Referring to FIG. 12, a user interface window 1200 displays a wallpaperof the desktop mode, and the wallpaper includes an icon 1210 for awindows store application.

In response to the icon 1210 not being directly selected by the user butbeing selected to display a menu display window (for example, inresponse to the icon being selected for a preset time), a menu displaywindow 1220 including various options for the icon is displayed.

Therefore, the user may select “execute in desktop” in the displayedmenu display window 1220, and input a command for allowing a windowsstore application corresponding to a corresponding icon to be operatedin the desktop mode.

FIGS. 6 to 12 illustrate that in response to an icon being doubleclicked, the windows store application is operated in the modern UI, andthe windows store application is operated in the desktop mode inresponse to “execute in desktop” being selected after a right button ofa mouse (or an icon for a preset time) is selected. However, theelectronic apparatus may be conversely implemented. That is, in responseto an icon on a wallpaper of the desktop mode being selected, thewindows store application is operated in the desktop mode, and thewindows store application is operated in the modern UI in response to“execute to modern UI” being selected after a right button of the mouse(or an icon for a preset time) is selected.

Referring to FIG. 13, a user interface window 1300 is a starting screenof the modern UI. The starting screen displays a list of applicationsinstalled in the electronic apparatus 100 in a tile form. The userselects one tile 1310 among displayed tiles, and places the selectedtile 1310 on an operation icon 1320 in the desktop mode in a drag anddrop form to input an operation command for the selected windows storeapplication in the first operation mode. The operation icon 1320 in thedesktop mode is a region which receives a command for operating anapplication corresponding to the icon in the first operation mode. FIG.13 illustrates that the corresponding command is received in a drag anddrop form, but the command input may be implemented by the operation ofselecting an application to be added through a preset action (e.g.selection for a preset time), and selecting a corresponding icon.

Referring to FIG. 14, a user interface window 1400 is a starting screenof the modern UI. The starting screen displays a list of applicationsinstalled in the electronic apparatus 100 in a tile form. The userselects one tile 1410 among displayed tiles, and places the selectedtile 1410 on a desktop mode icon 1420 in a drag and drop form to inputan operation command for the selected windows store application in thefirst operation mode. The desktop mode icon 1420 is an icon whichreceives a command for converting the modern UI into the desktop mode inresponse to the corresponding icon being selected.

The method of selecting an operation environment in an initial operationwith respect to the application is described, but the method of changingan operation environment with an application which is operating may beimplemented.

Referring to FIG. 15, the user interface window 1500 includes anoperation list region 1510, and a desktop mode region 1520.

The operation list region 1510 is a region which displays a list ofapplications which are currently operating in the electronic apparatus100.

In response to a windows store application 1511, which is operating,displayed in the operation list region 1510 being selected and draggedand dropped to the desktop mode region 1520 by the user, a window 1530for checking movement intent of the user is displayed.

The displayed window 1530 includes a full screen region 1531, a leftregion 1532, a right region 1533, and a desktop region 1534.

The full screen region 1531 is a region which is selected to display ascreen of a windows store application selected by the user in a fullscreen.

The left region 1532 is a region which is selected to display a screendivided into a left region and a right region, and to display a screenof the application selected by the user in the left region.

The right region 1533 is a region which is selected to display a screendivided into a left region and a right region, and to display a screenof the application selected by the user in the right region.

The desktop region 1534 is a region which receives a command foroperating the screen of the application selected by the user in thedesktop mode. In response to the desktop region being selected, a screenas illustrated in FIG. 16 is displayed.

Referring to FIG. 16, a user interface window 1600 displays a screen inthe desktop mode, and a screen corresponding to a windows storeapplication is displayed in a form of a widget window 1610.

As described above, the electronic apparatus according to the exemplaryembodiment displays a windows store application in a desktop mode in awindow form.

FIG. 16 illustrates that one window is displayed in the desktop mode,but a plurality of windows may be implemented to be displayed asillustrated in FIG. 17.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating an application execution methodaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 18, first, the electronic apparatus manages a list fora windows store application to be displayed in response to entering thefirst operation mode among a plurality of pre-stored applications instep S1810. Specifically, the electronic apparatus determines whethereach of the plurality of applications previously stored (or previouslyinstalled) is a desktop application or a windows store application, andmanages a list for an application previously selected by the user amongapplications determined to be windows store applications. The list mayinclude address information for an execution file of the windows storeapplication and icon information for the windows store application. Themanagement includes generation of a first list and correction of thelist corresponding to addition and deletion of an application after thegeneration of the list. The correction of the list was described above,and is omitted here.

In response to entering the first operation mode, the electronicapparatus displays an icon corresponding to the windows storeapplication included in the list in step S1820.

Specifically, in response to entering a state in which a wallpaper ofthe desktop mode must be displayed, the electronic apparatus displays anicon corresponding to the windows store application in the previouslygenerated. The displayed icon is the same as the icon displayed on themodern UI or has a different shape from the icon displayed on the modernUI.

In response to the displayed icon being selected in step S1830, theelectronic apparatus operates the windows store applicationcorresponding to the selected icon in step S1840. Specifically, theelectronic apparatus operates the windows store applicationcorresponding to the selected icon in the second operation mode orgenerates a virtualization environment to operate the second operationmode in the first operation mode, and operates the windows storeapplication in the first operation mode. The virtualization operation isdescribed above, and is omitted here.

As described above, the application execution method according to thepresent invention registers a windows store application frequently usedby the user on the desktop wallpaper as an icon, and the user may easilydrive the windows store application in the desktop mode. Further, theapplication execution method according to the present invention drivesthe windows store application in the desktop mode, and operates thewindows store application in the same manner as an existing OS method(for example, Windows XP or Windows 7) to increase a user's familiarityof the OS. The application execution method as illustrated in FIG. 18may be executed on the electronic apparatus of FIG. 1, or on otherelectronic apparatuses.

The application execution method according to the exemplary embodimentmay be implemented with a program (or an application) including acomputer-executable algorithm, and the program may be stored in anon-transitory computer-readable recording medium, and provided.

The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium is not a mediumconfigured to temporarily store data such as a register, a cache, or amemory but an apparatus-readable recording medium configured tosemi-permanently store data. Specifically, the above-described variousapplications or programs may be stored in the non-transitoryapparatus-readable recording medium, such as a Compact Disc (CD), aDigital Versatile Disc (DVD), a hard disc, a Blu-ray disc, a UniversalSerial Bus (USB), a memory card, or a Read Only Memory (ROM), andprovided.

The foregoing embodiments of the present invention and advantages aremerely examples and are not to be construed as limiting the presentinvention. The embodiments can be readily applied to other types ofdevices. Also, the description of the embodiments is intended to beillustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims, and manyalternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A portable electronic device comprising: adisplay; memory to store a first set of applications and a second set ofapplications, the first set of applications and the second set ofapplications to be executed in a first operation mode and a secondoperation mode of a same operating system, respectively; and a processoradapted to: display a background screen and a first icon on the display,at least temporarily, while the portable electronic device is operatedin the first operation mode, identify a first input received withrespect to the first icon, display a first rectangular indication and asecond rectangular indication on a first portion of the backgroundscreen based at least in part on the first input, the first rectangularindication indicative of a first application of the first set ofapplications and the second rectangular indication indicative of asecond application of the second set of applications, wherein the firstand second rectangular indications have a first graphicalcharacteristic, identify a dragging input received with respect to thesecond rectangular indication selected from the first and secondrectangular indications, display, in response to the dragging inputbeing released, a second icon corresponding to the second application ofthe second set of applications indicated by the selected secondrectangular indication on a second portion of the background screenwhere the dragging input is released, wherein the second icon has asecond graphical characteristic different from the first graphicalcharacteristic, and execute the second application of the second set ofapplications based at least in part on a second input received withrespect to the second icon.
 2. The portable electronic device of claim1, further comprising a communication interface, wherein the processoris further adapted to receive, using the communication interface, thesecond set of applications from an external electronic device via acommunication network, the external electronic device adapted to providean application store service to a plurality of electronic devicesincluding the portable electronic device with respect to the second setof applications.
 3. The portable electronic device of claim 1, whereinthe processor is further adapted to display the first and secondrectangular indications on the first portion of the background screen ina grid pattern.
 4. The portable electronic device of claim 1, whereinthe processor is further adapted to arrange the first and secondrectangular indications according to one or more specified groups as atleast part of the displaying of the first and second rectangularindications.
 5. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein theprocessor is further adapted to maintain the first operation mode whilethe second application is executed.
 6. The portable electronic device ofclaim 1, wherein the processor is further adapted to display a firstuser interface corresponding to the second application on a portion ofthe background screen while the second application is executed in thefirst operation mode, the first user interface including a close buttonto terminate execution of the second application.
 7. The portableelectronic device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further adaptedto: perform the displaying of the second rectangular indication havingthe first graphical characteristic such that the second rectangularindication is displayed as corresponding to the second operation mode;and perform the displaying of the second icon having the secondgraphical characteristic such that the second icon is displayed ascorresponding to the first operation mode.
 8. The portable electronicdevice of claim 1, wherein the processor is further adapted to:transition into the second operation mode in response to the secondinput, and maintain the second operation mode while the secondapplication is executed.
 9. A portable electronic device comprising: adisplay; memory to store a first set of applications and a second set ofapplications, the first set of applications and the second set ofapplications to be executed in a first operation mode and a secondoperation mode of a same operating system, respectively; and a processoradapted to: display a background screen and a first icon on the display,at least temporarily, while the portable electronic device is operatedin the first operation mode, identify a first input received withrespect to the first icon, display an application list including aplurality of tile icons on a first portion of the background screenbased at least in part on the first input, the plurality of tile iconsincluding a first tile icon indicative of a first application of a firstset of applications and a second tile icon indicative of a secondapplication of the second set of applications, wherein the plurality oftile icons are displayed with division of one or more specified groups,identify a dragging input received with respect to the second tile iconselected from the first and second tile icons, display, in response tothe dragging input being released, a second icon corresponding to thesecond application of the second set of applications indicated by theselected second tile icon on a second portion of the background screen,the second icon having a size smaller than the size of the second tileicon, and execute the second application of the second set ofapplications based at least in part on a second input received withrespect to the second icon.
 10. The portable electronic device of claim9, wherein the processor is further adapted to store the first set ofapplications in a first region of the memory, and the second set ofapplications in a second region of the memory.
 11. The portableelectronic device of claim 9, wherein the processor is further adaptedto identify the second application as distinguished from the first setof applications based at least in part on a determination that aspecified application identifier is assigned to the second application.12. The portable electronic device of claim 9, wherein the processor isfurther adapted to maintain the first operation mode while the secondapplication is executed.
 13. The portable electronic device of claim 9,wherein the processor is further adapted to display a first userinterface corresponding to the second application on a portion of thebackground screen while the second application is executed in the firstoperation mode.
 14. The portable electronic device of claim 9, whereinthe processor is further adapted to: perform the displaying of thesecond tile icon such that the second tile icon has a first graphicalcharacteristic corresponding to the second operation mode; and performthe displaying of the second icon such that the second icon has a secondgraphical characteristic corresponding to the first operation mode. 15.The portable electronic device of claim 15, wherein the processor isfurther adapted to display, in the first user interface, a close buttonto terminate the executing of the second application.
 16. The portableelectronic device of claim 15, wherein the processor is further adaptedto change a size of the first user interface in response to a thirdinput.
 17. A non-transitory, machine-readable, storage device storinginstructions thereon that, when executed by one or more processors,cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:storing, at a portable electronic device, a first set of applicationsand a second set of applications, the first set of applications and thesecond set of applications to be executed in a first operation mode anda second operation mode of a same operating system, respectively;displaying, on a display operatively coupled with the portableelectronic device, a background screen and a first icon at leasttemporarily while the portable electronic device is operated in thefirst operation mode; identifying a first input received with respect tothe first icon; displaying a first rectangular indication and a secondrectangular indication on a first portion of the background screen basedat least in part on the first input, the first rectangular indicationindicative of a first application of the first set of applications andthe second rectangular indication indicative of a second application ofthe second set of applications, wherein the first and second rectangularindications are displayed in a grid pattern with division of one or morespecified groups; identifying a dragging input received with respect tothe second rectangular indication selected from the first and secondrectangular indications; displaying, in response to the dragging inputbeing released, a second icon corresponding to the second application ofthe second set of applications indicated by the selected secondrectangular indication on a second portion of the background screen, thesecond icon having a size smaller than the size of the secondrectangular indication; and executing the second application of thesecond set of applications based at least in part on a second inputreceived with respect to the second icon.
 18. The non-transitorymachine-readable storage device of claim 18, wherein the second set ofapplications comprise one or more applications downloaded from anexternal electronic device via a communication network and installed atthe portable electronic device, the external electronic device adaptedto provide an application store service to a plurality of electronicdevices including the portable electronic device with respect to thesecond set of applications.
 19. The non-transitory machine-readablestorage device of claim 18, wherein the displaying of the second icon isto be performed such that the second icon has a size smaller than thesize of the second rectangular indication.
 20. The non-transitorymachine-readable storage device of claim 18, wherein the operationsfurther comprise maintaining the first operation mode while the secondapplication is executed.